P723 CJEFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:44/32 1/8 HALLEY VIEWING TIMETABLE November The comet could be seen with telescopes and binoculars, with the help of star charts, ovjt previous months, but mid-November is moon-free and is the first good chance to see it. December Should be the first month for naked-eye observation. The brightness of the comet remains fairly constant. Comet can bj seen at dusk. January Comet brightens and develops tail, but by the end of the month it sets before the sky is dark and is lost from view. Viewing hints 724s1-s5 MoreP723 CEEFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:09/47 2/8 HALLEY VIEWING TIMETABLE February Comet is seen again towards the end of the month in morning twilight. Tail lengthening day by day. March Comet can bj seen mid-month in the moonless morning sky with a long tail just above the horizon. Giotto spacecraft encounters comet. April Comet is below horizon for the first two weeks of the month. May Fast-fading comet re-appears in evening sky. Tail almost gone. Can bj seen with telescopes to early August. Giotto and the artist 725s1 MoreP723 CEEFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:32/00 3/8 HALLEY TIMETABLE OF EVENTS December 15, 1984 Soviet Vega 1 space- craft to Halley via Venus launched. December 21 Vega 2 launched. January 8, 1985 Launch of Japanese MS-T5 spacecraft, a pathfinder for Japan's Planet-A Halley probe. April Giotto spacecraft arrived at Kourou for launch on Arianj rocket. May 5 Eta Aquarid meteor shower reached maximum. Shower believed to have been formed bz material from Halley. Street lighting issue 724s7 MoreP723 CEEFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:41/22 W=,,4<,,4<,,,lh,,lh,,,4 4/8 HALLEY TIMETABLE OF EVENTS July 2, 1985 Giotto launched on Ariane from Kourou. August 14 Japanese Planet-A Halley probe launched. September 5 Comet Giacobini-Zinnjr at perihelion, 1.03AU from the Sun, 0.47AU from Earth. September 11 US International Comjtary Explorer (ICE) encountered Comet Giacobini-Zinnjr. Giacobini-Zinnjr met 725s8 MoreP723 CJEFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:43/41 5/8 HALLEY TJMETBBLE OF EVENTS October 10, 1985 Draconid meteors - Giacobini-Zinnjt debris - at maximum. October 20/21 Orionid meteors - debris from Comet Halley - at maximum. October 29 Edmond Halley was born on this date in 1656. November 9-16 National Astronomy Week, organisjd bz the Daily Telegraph, which offered a telephone information service on local events connected with Halley's comet. Tjlecom "hotline" 724s: MoreP723 CJEFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:47/37 6/8 HALLEY TJMETBBLJ OF EVENTS November 27, 1985 Halley makes closest approach to Earth on inbound part of orbit. December Halley could be visible to the naked eye from Britain. January 14, 1986 Halley died 244 years ago on this day, aged 86. January Comet Halley may bj lost to sight in the evening twilight towards the end of this month. Edmond Halley's life 726 MoreP723 CEEFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:42/10 7/8 HALLEY TIMETABLE OF EVENTS February 9, 1986 Halley at perihelion, not visible to the naked eye because it is behind Sun. February Comet reappears in morning sky, too far south to bj seen from UK. March 6 Vega 1 flypast of Halley, at about 10,000km. March 8 Planet-A flypast, at about 200,000km. March 9 Vega 2 flypast, at about 10,000 km or closer. Halley's botches? 726s7 MoreP723 CJJFAX 723 Sun 22 Dec 16:48/32 8/8 HALLEY TIMETABLE OF EVENTS March 11, 1986 Japanese MS-T5 space- craft within 11,000,000km of comet. March 13/14 Giotto intercepts Halley at about midnight GMT. Relative velocity 68km/sec, 500km from nucleus. April Best possible view of Halley - but from southern hemisphere. April 11 Closest approach to Earth, at 0.42AU. Mid-May Halley fades from naked eye visibility from all parts of Earth. Giotto rehearsals 725s7 More